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Fantasy football drafts are all about collecting the best possible values, but we all know those special players exist whom we badly want on our squad.
Whether it’s the young, up-and-coming wide receiver on our favorite team, a sleeper running back no one is talking about or this year’s big breakout at tight end, these players add an extra level of excitement to the roster construction process.
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This round-by-round analysis will give you an idea of what’s going through my head on draft day, headlined by those players I have circled on my cheat sheet. Note that I used average draft position (ADP) data from Draft Sharks’ terrific Market Index Tool in order to ensure this road map would be useful for as many of you as possible.
For a more philosophical look at the fantasy landscape, including strategies for drafting, trading and working waivers in all types of formats, be sure to check out the fantasy football playbook column.
Here it is: my personal recipe for a 2026 fantasy football championship in a 12-team league.
When I’m making my selections, I often ask myself: “Am I drafting this player at his ceiling?” If the answer is “yes,” I generally aim for someone with more upside. Of course, all the players available in the first round or so are likely at or near their ceiling, so this is an opportunity to not overthink it and simply take the best available player on the board.
Round 1: Best available RB or WR
Who I choose in the first round will, of course, primarily depend on where I pick. For the purposes of this exercise, it’s (once again) a tricky year to handicap who will be available since six RBs and six WRs are currently coming off the board in the round.
If I land a top-two pick, this is an easy call: Jahmyr Gibbs or Bijan Robinson. I’m also happy to take Christian McCaffrey or Jonathan Taylor in the middle of the round or to go wide receiver with the best available among Ja’Marr Chase, Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Amon-Ra St. Brown, CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson.
Don’t overthink the first round. It’s loaded with talent. Just take the best guy on your board and proceed.
Round 2: De’Von Achane
Just like Round 1, our pool of available players is very dependent on where we are in the draft order. If I’m near the Round 1-2 turn, I’ll likely be eyeing a running back, with Achane as the highlight and the likes of Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Kenneth Walker III among the appealing options.
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Achane is a polarizing player. On the one hand, he’s 24 years old, having finished both of the past two seasons in the top five among running backs in fantasy points. He has scored either 11 or 12 TDs in each of his three NFL campaigns, and he leads all qualified backs with 5.62 YPC since entering the league.
On the other hand, he lost RB-friendly playcaller Mike McDaniel and the rebuilding Miami offense could struggle to move the ball in 2026. The bottom line for me is that, as coach Jeff Hafley noted in early August, Achane is going to handle a massive workload. That’s enough for me to pounce on Achane, who reminds me a lot of prime Alvin Kamara, at the Round 1-2 turn.
The mid-to-late portion of Round 2 leans more toward wide receiver, with Drake London, Nico Collins, A.J. Brown and George Pickens there for the taking. I have no major qualms with investing in one of the “Big 2” tight ends — Trey McBride or Brock Bowers — but I think you can get more value later.
Round 3: Jeremiyah Love
Love can be best described as “My Guy” in 2026. I have him ranked well above the consensus and often grab him late in the second round when possible. However, he generally comes off the board near the Round 2-3 turn, more likely now settling into the third round as he recovers from an ankle injury suffered in his preseason debut. At worst, he’s expected to miss one game, but it’s very possible — perhaps even likely? — that he’ll be good to go for Week 1.
Even if Love’s career starts off slowly, he’s a good bet to beat his ADP. The No. 3 overall pick in April’s draft, Love is looking to become the 10th consecutive back selected in the top 12 to finish in the top 12 in fantasy points as a rookie. He looked excellent in his debut and is capable as a rusher, receiver and blocker. I expect RB1 production when he’s on the field.
If not Love, Malik Nabers and Rashee Rice are my targets here. We’ve been getting a discount on both for different reasons, but Nabers is on the rise now that it appears he’ll be able to play in Week 1 (following a successful recovery from last season’s torn ACL). Rice still could face league discipline, but that’s already baked into his cost. He remained his usual, productive self when active last season, handling 9.8 targets per game and posting top-12 fantasy outings in five of his eight games.
My RB6 through RB15 form one giant tier, so whichever backs remain from that group are also on my radar here. That includes Breece Hall and, while we need to monitor for a potential suspension, Josh Jacobs.
Round 4: Garrett Wilson
My favorite round this season? The fourth. My favorite pick in stated round? Wilson.
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We’re getting a discount on the fifth-year receiver after an injury-plagued 2025 campaign in which he missed 10 games. Of course, he was productive when healthy, averaging 14.2 fantasy PPG thanks to a massive 33% target share. Wilson is primed for a career year with Geno Smith under center. Though not a major upgrade, Smith did lead the trio of DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Smith-Njigba to top-16 fantasy campaigns during the 2022-24 seasons.
If not Wilson, I’m likely going with one of Cam Skattebo or Quinshon Judkins, as (a) they’re two of my favorite running back targets this year and (b) running back dries up in a hurry after this round. Year 2 wide receivers Tetairoa McMillan and Emeka Egbuka are also very appealing here and I’m also not afraid to take a shot on second-year tight end Colston Loveland.
Round 5: Tyler Warren
Warren is my favorite tight end value pick. The second-year player had a terrific rookie season — and it very well could have been better. In 12 games with a healthy Daniel Jones, he scored five touchdowns and averaged 13.1 fantasy PPG. In five games with Jones out, he failed to find the end zone and averaged just 6.3 PPG. Warren finished his debut season ranked in the top five among tight ends in both targets and end zone targets. He also handled three goal-line carries.
If I don’t go tight end, I like the value at wide receiver. Terry McLaurin, Jameson Williams and Davante Adams are all on my radar.
Round 6: Rome Odunze
Although teammate Luther Burden III is getting all the hype, Odunze is well positioned for a Year 3 leap. He very well could lead a good Chicago offense in both targets and fantasy points. We saw his ceiling early on last season in the form of five touchdowns and 15-plus fantasy points over his first four games. It’s possible he gets back to that WR1 level now that he’s near full health.
I’m also looking at Carnell Tate in this range, though I’ll feel better if Cam Ward shows progress this preseason. Parker Washington has been one of my favorite targets throughout the offseason, but his ADP has ballooned to the sixth round. That’s made him quite expensive. I haven’t yet selected a quarterback in this exercise, but this isn’t a bad place to strike with Jayden Daniels on the board.
OK, so the core of my team is in place. Now it’s time to start filling gaps and adding depth. I obviously want players with upside, but I also want guys I feel comfortable placing in my Week 1 lineup. We’ll save the high-risk fliers for later.
Round 7: Courtland Sutton
It’s been years since Sutton wasn’t a favorite target of mine, and he continues to pay dividends. The veteran receiver has delivered 1,000-plus yards and a top-20 fantasy campaign in both of the last two seasons. He’ll have more target competition with Jaylen Waddle in the mix, but he’ll remain one of Bo Nix’s go-to receivers, especially near the goal line. Sutton ranks third in the league in end zone targets over the last four seasons.
If not a wide receiver, Rico Dowdle makes for a solid RB3/flex. If I haven’t addressed tight end yet, I’d be all over Sam LaPorta or Kyle Pitts Sr.
Round 8: Michael Pittman Jr.
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The middle-round wide receiver run continues with Pittman. Like Sutton, Pittman continues to pay off as a boring investment in the middle rounds. The ex-Colt finished four of his six seasons in Indianapolis as a top-20 fantasy receiver and he’s reached 800 receiving yards in five consecutive seasons. He’s unlikely to deliver big touchdown numbers, but is still a good bet to lead the Aaron Rodgers-led Steelers in both targets and catches.
If I want to aim for a higher ceiling than Pittman, ex-teammate Alec Pierce is a fun “lottery ticket” in this range. Signed to a four-year, $114 million contract in the offseason, Pierce’s ADP has dipped as he recovers from ankle/heel surgery. I’ll keep drafting him as long as his expected date of return remains Week 1. If not a receiver, Jonathon Brooks is a terrific target, as he very well could lead the Carolina backfield this season.
Round 9: Jaxson Dart
Finally a quarterback! Dart is one of my most-drafted players this season, as he’s inexpensive and has a substantial fantasy ceiling. As a rookie, he played the bulk of Giants snaps in 12 games and was a top-10 fantasy scorer in eight of those weeks — only four quarterbacks had more top-10 outings! With John Harbaugh now in charge and Nabers back (Dart threw only three passes his way last season), Dart has a better supporting cast to go along with elite rushing ability. The 2025 first-round pick is a sleeper to lead the quarterback position in fantasy points.
If not Dart, I’m looking at RBs Kenny Gainwell and Jordan Mason or TE George Kittle. Kittle would generally come off the board much earlier, but he comes at a discount this year while he recovers from a torn Achilles. He’s expected to be ready to play in either Week 1 or 2.
Round 10: Bo Nix or Brock Purdy
I’m usually content to leave a draft with one quarterback. That stated, especially if I wait at the position (as I did in this exercise), I have no issue grabbing a second one. That game plan is even more sensible in 2026 with a deep tier of fringe-QB1 options.
In this case, I took somewhat of a risk with Dart, so I’m following up with a more proven commodity in Nix or Purdy. Nix often falls to the 10th round of drafts despite having finished exactly seventh in fantasy points in both of his NFL seasons. Oh, and his supporting cast is even better with Waddle in the fold. Purdy missed quite a bit of time due to injury last season, but he was terrific when active, scoring 17-plus fantasy points in seven out of nine games. He’s eyeing his fourth consecutive top-10 finish in fantasy PPG.
If I’m not looking quarterback here, second-year RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt and veteran TE Jake Ferguson are on my radar.
At this point, our starting lineup is likely full, which means it’s time to look for values and upside for our bench.
Round 11: Matthew Golden
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Packers wideouts haven’t been good to me in the past (including Golden last season), but this value is too good to pass up. Golden played a limited role as a rookie and failed to find the end zone, but he did flash at times, including a 4-84-1 receiving line in the team’s playoff loss to Chicago. Coach Matt LaFleur seems intent on narrowing the target tree this season. With both Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks gone, that’s good news for Golden, Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. Golden — a 2025 first-round pick — is a Year 2 breakout candidate you can get in the double-digit rounds. Sign me up!
I also like rookie KC Concepcion and post-hype Xavier Worthy in this range. I’ve also taken fliers on Zach Charbonnet, who will eventually return from a torn ACL to potentially lead a terrific Seattle run offense, and Dallas Goedert.
Round 12: De’Zhaun Stribling
As of the moment, Stribling’s ADP is in the 13th round, but I don’t love the options here, so I’m not going to be afraid to reach a bit for a potential league winner. The No. 33 pick in April’s draft, Stribling has good size (6-foot-2, 207 lbs.) and speed (a 4.36 40-yard dash). Plus, he has impressed in preseason action.
With Ricky Pearsall out for the season, the rookie will compete with Mike Evans (33 years old), Deebo Samuel Sr. (30, just re-signed) and Kittle (torn Achilles recovery) for work in a 49ers offense that has finished sixth or better in passing yards in each of the last three seasons. Oh, and his uncle is WWE Hall of Famer, Don “The Magnificent” Muraco. Stribling is an easy click in the later rounds.
If not Stribling, Rashid Shaheed is a fine lottery ticket here, as are a handful of running backs, including Woody Marks, Chris Rodriguez Jr., Tyler Allgeier and Tyjae Spears.
Rounds 13-14: High-ceiling insurance and breakout candidates
ADP starts to go out the window late in the draft, so now is the time to get our favorite late-round sleepers and breakout candidates.
Here are some of the players I will be considering with my final few picks:
Quarterback fliers: I generally select one quarterback, especially since a lot of solid QB2 options will go undrafted in most formats. However, if I’m eyeing a sneaky veteran or breakout candidate in a deeper league, the likes of Daniel Jones, Malik Willis and Cam Ward are on my radar.
Running back insurance: A few popular insurance RBs will be gone by now, but a ton remain, including Brian Robinson Jr., Keaton Mitchell, Isiah Pacheco, Jonah Coleman, Tank Bigsby, Ray Davis, Dylan Sampson, Mike Washington Jr., Braelon Allen and MarShawn Lloyd. Pick your favorite!
Wide receiver upside fliers: As we learned in Part 1 of my Playbook, young receivers who were drafted in the first few rounds are terrific upside targets. Your top late-round options who fit that bill in 2026 include rookies Stribling, Denzel Boston, Caleb Douglas, Ja’Kobi Lane, Germie Bernard, Zachariah Branch and Omar Cooper Jr., as well as youngsters Travis Hunter, Jalen McMillan, Tre’ Harris and Adonai Mitchell. I could expand this list even further, but as a simple rule, we should have our eyes on first- and second-year receivers who went on Day 1 or 2 of the NFL draft.
Tight end options: There are always a few interesting late-round TE fliers of note. Among those available this season are veterans T.J. Hockenson, Hunter Henry and Juwan Johnson, as well as young, breakout candidates Terrance Ferguson, Kenyon Sadiq and Gunnar Helm. Ferguson feels like an absolute steal in this range, as he could easily finish third in targets in the high-scoring Rams offense. Sadiq is looking to become the sixth consecutive tight end drafted in the first round to finish in the top 12 in fantasy points as a rookie.
Rounds 15-16: Kicker and D/ST … or more breakout candidates!
We’re assuming a 16-round draft here, so this is the point where league rules come into play. If we’re drafting here at ESPN, we’ll be forced to select both a defense and a kicker — and I’ll cover my favorite targets at those spots later. However, if there’s flexibility in your league, this is a spot where we can gain a leg up on the competition. Most of our leaguemates are going to select at least one kicker and defense and let them rot on their roster until Week 1.
Why? I have no idea. Don’t do that!
In lieu of those positions, I will gather up insurance policies at other positions (especially running back) and wait for injuries to strike during the preseason. If I have the Ravens defense rostered and Saquon Barkley goes down for the season, I have the Ravens defense. If I instead have Tank Bigsby rostered when Barkley goes down, I have myself a potential RB2.
Oh, and I can always drop two players and pick up a defense with a good matchup, along with a decent kicker just prior to Week 1. By the way, if your league is hosted here at ESPN — and why wouldn’t it be? — one way around the draft room restrictions is to cut your kicker and defense immediately after the draft in favor of adding more of the high-upside stashes mentioned earlier.
Defense/special teams
History has taught us over and over that we should never reach on our D/ST. In fact, The No.1-scoring fantasy D/ST has finished ninth or worse the following season in seven of the past nine seasons. Additionally, four defenses that finished 27th or worse in 2024 rebounded with a top-10 finish in 2025.
The Texans, Broncos, Steelers, Seahawks and Rams sit atop my D/ST rankings. However, since I like to stream, I’ll also be looking at the Jaguars, Jets and Chargers — each has a relatively light Week 1 opponent.
Kicker
This is as simple as picking the top guy left on the board. Brandon Aubrey, Cameron Dicker and Jason Myers are at the top of my rankings, but don’t reach on any of them. The legend that is Daniel Carlson finished as fantasy’s top kicker in 2021 and 2022. Did that convince you to reach on him a bit in your 2023 draft? If so, you ended up with fantasy’s No. 24 kicker. In fact, the top scorer at the position has finished eighth or worse the following season in six of the last eight seasons. Myers, an 11-year veteran, had never finished better than fourth in fantasy points prior to leading the position in 2025.
So, there you have it. My game plan for a 2026 fantasy football championship. Remember, this article should not serve as your only draft board. It’s simply the players I’ve found myself targeting and, with ADP in mind, those I would love to have on my squad this year.
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